Related organisations

VNG Fund for Emergency Aid, Reconstruction and Peacebuilding

The VNG Fund is a foundation established in 2018 by VNG, to enable the capacity development of local governments confronted with natural disasters or the challenges of bringing back stability after conflict. The fund resources are from donations by Dutch municipalities and from VNG International’s positive financial results. Currently the fund finances recovery projects in Ukraine and after the earthquakes in Türkiye (2022) and Morocco (2023).

Website: www.vngfonds.nl

The Hague Academy for Local Governance

The Hague Academy for Local Governance provides practice-oriented, high quality training courses, master classes and study visits, and specialises in local governance and decentralisation in developing and transitional countries. It was established by VNG International with the support of the municipality of The Hague.

Website: www.thehagueacademy.com

United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)

UCLG is the united voice and world advocate of democratic local self-government. UCLG is the largest local government organisation in the world. Representing over half the world’s population, the members of UCLG are present in 136 UN Member States. VNG is an active member of UCLG and co-chairs the Policy Council on Equal Opportunities for All.

From October 2024 to October 2025 UCLG is presided over by Jan van Zanen, mayor of the city of The Hague. During his presidency, he will be actively supported by VNG.

VNG International chairs the UCLG Capacity and Institution Building Working Group. The Working Group brings together professional practitioners from Local Government Associations and cities active in the field of local government development cooperation, in order to exchange experience, share knowledge and further professionalise our practice.

VNG International also hosts the secretariat of the UCLG Peace Prize, a prize which is handed over at every UCLG World Congress to the municipality with the most innovative approach in building peace and dialogue.

Websites:
www.uclg.org 
www.cib-uclg.org
http://peaceprize.uclg.org

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is the largest organisation of local and regional government in Europe, with a membership of more than 50 national associations of towns, municipalities and regions from 40 countries. CEMR hosts the secretariat of PLATFORMA, the European platform of local and regional authorities for development cooperation. VNG International is an active member of PLATFORMA, which core mission is to set up a solid dialogue between EU institutions in charge of development policy and European local and regional governments.

Website CEMR: www.ccre.org

Website PLATFORMA: www.platforma-dev.eu